Gastrointestinal and kidney symptoms?

I've been under abx treatment for neuro-Lyme and babesiosis for 16 months and getting much much better, most recently on Flagyl and azithromycin.

A couple of weeks ago, I began to get a soreness on my stomach just under my ribs, and then the whole area across my waist began to ache and feel bloated.  After about 10 days, I was having sharp pains at either side of my waist, was feeling groggy and unwell, and my back was aching in the kidney area.  No appetite; dull-witted.

I called my dr and he said stop taking the meds, which I did, and gradually my gut got better.  He told me to go back on the meds, but I wanted to wait until my gut was completely okay.  The last couple of days I've been much better, with an occasional relapse of gut ache and sometimes what feels like my kidneys in spasm.  Not good.

In all my suffering with these miserable diseases, my gut and my kidneys have never been a problem, which surprised me because I've always had a touchy digestive system.  My dr said he thought it was a Herx, but I'm not so sure and still think it might be a reaction to the drugs -- Flagyl can be very hard on the digestive tract.

Have any of you had this happen?  Any ideas/advice?  Does it sound like a Herx, or reaction to the meds?

Thank you!  (Checking these postings really helps me get through the day.  You have no idea.  Or maybe you do....)

[SOONERMOM]

Are you getting routine blood work done?  About 2 weeks after starting flagyl, my liver enzymes (ALT) had risen from 11 to 88.  My LLMD switched me to claforan IM and shortly after starting that they just kept rising, even after stopping all medications. It finally stopped at 456.

They told me to take milk thistle to help the enzymes come down.  After starting that, I got pain like what you describe and I NEVER have abdominal problems.  I was unable to eat any large meal with meat (esp. beef) for about two weeks...it just was too painful. (all under my ribs on both sides and I felt bloated too)  I eventually had an ultrasound of my liver and pancreas , and more bloodwork and everything else was normal.  I backed off of the milk thistle and the pain resolved (or maybe it was the fact that my liver enzymes kept falling too??)

I have been told by other people that flagyl can elevate your liver enzymes, even though it doesn't really list it as a side effect that I could find.  I know that ANY abx can do it, though.

Sorry, didn't mean to go on and on....just something for you to check out, if you haven't already.  You don't have any other symptoms like dark urine or clay colored stools,  night sweats, or fever??  

Anyway, I am still waiting for my enzymes to fall back to normal so I can restart abx...so this is fresh in my mind.  I really hope I am not freaking you out, but I think it is something to look into.

Let us know how you are doing!
Stacey

[EricaO]

hey I am doing the pulsed flagyl abx as you know and I just started again.

here is my schedule so far.

1 week 1/2 dosage 500mg flagyl
2 weeks full dosage 1000mg flagyl
2 weeks no dosage flagyl
2 full days of Flagyl full dosage 1000mg flagyl.

Yesterday I didn't really feel bad just ZERO appetite, today OMG has  been HORRIBLE! I woke up with the optical nerve headache in my right eye. You know the one that doesn't improve with hot compress, tylenol, or continued sleep.
I had SEVERE nausea and continued bathroom usage. I kid you not I went to the bathroom 8-9 times today. All I had was 6 crackers and 1 piece of dry toast!!!!

I meet with the Lyme Dr. tomorrow.

[patsy10]

I concur with SOONERMOM.  I think some blood work is in order.  These strong medications can cause organ problems with elevated liver enzymes etc....I would get liver, kidney test done then go from there.

[Lali418]

My son has terrible troubles with his stomache and it can really be painful for him.

His started before the ABX, so this is a little scarry for me to hear about.  I pray he does not have this kind of trouble.  sorry to ramble.

I agree with Soonermom, you should have more blood wrok done and checks on both your Kidney and Liver.  High Liver enzymes can be very harmful to your system.

Be careful and good luck!

[JackieCalifornia]

Everyone,

Thank you for your thoughtful responses -- I will see the dr on Wednesday (5 days from now) and will insist on blood work and urinalysis too just for the heck of it.  

I'm feeling generally better, but still no appetite.  Yesterday I didn't have any more severe aches, and tend to think the meds just irritated the heck out of my gut.  I really did well on the Flagyl otherwise, and am thinking about what next.

The good news is that my head is still clear -- the neuro symptoms have lessened a great deal form when I was initially very ill a couple of years ago, and I feel almost normal *mentally*.  I do feel the little aches and pains in joints coming back, tho, and got the funniest muscle twitching in my upper arm -- but it stopped.  So the little things are still around, and I suppose it's just a matter of time before the bugs start to take over again.

I'm looking seriously at herbal treatments from Buhner's book and may go for that, depending on what goodies the LLMD can come up with on Wednesday.

THANK YOU everyone for responding.  Y'all take care, now.